Hot mill catcher



June 24, 1930. D, uc o 1,767,574

HOT MILL CATCHER Filed July 1-9, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet l a N'N 045/0 EUC'C/GONE,

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June 24, 1930. n. BUCCICONE 1 9 HOT MILL CATCHER Filed July 19, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 *i I f f5.

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DARIO BUCCICONE, F GARY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR '10 AMERIGAN SHEET AND TIN PLATE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY HOT MILL CATCHER Application filed July 19,

This invention relates to hot mill catchers and more particularly to hot mill catchers for tin mills and the like, and has for one of its objects the provision of a catcher that will be automatic and speedy in operation.

Another object is to provide a catcher having a tilting .tableadapted to betilted toward the mill when the catcher is returning the sheets or. lates to the mill and to be automatically ti ted to a horizontal plane when the catcher is delivering the sheets or plates away from the mill.

.A further object is to provide means associated with the catcher for facilitating the piling of the finished sheets delivered from the mill.

A- still further object is to provide a catcher mechanism having the novel construction, arrangement and combination of 2 parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan of a hot mill catcher constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation, taken on theline IIIIII of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a rear end elevation.

Figure 5 is a sideelevation showing the sheet piling device.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail elevation, taken on the line VI-VI of Flgure 1.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional elevation showing the details of the sheet gaging mechanism.

Figure 8 is a sectional detail through the drive and braking mechanism of the sheet 40 gaging device.

Figure '9 is a sectional detail illustrating the brake drum mounting.

Figure 10 is a wiring dlagram for the apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letters A and B designate the upper and lower rolls of a hot mill.

The catcher of this invention comprises a wheeled frame C, having upper side mem- 50 bers 2 and extension side-plates 3 and 3 at 1928. Serial No. 293,849.

its forward end. The extension side-plates 3 and 3 are spaced vertically soas to provide clearance along the ath of travel of the sheets or plates, and t ereby permit the catcher to handle maximum width plates from the mill.

A pair of inch-rollers 4 and 5 are journaled in suita 1e bearings 6 and 7, in the sideplates 3 and 3, respectivel and are adapted to receive the plates as t ey pass from between the mill rolls A and B. A second set of pinch-rollers 8 and 9 are journaled in bearings 10 and 12, respectively, in sideplates 3", which connects the side-plates 3 and 3*. The upper bearings 6 and 10 for the upper rollers 0 said pairs of'pinch-rollers are spring pressed so as to permit the plates to pass therebetween. The upper roller 8 of said second pair of pinch-rollers is limlted in itsmovement toward the lower roller 9 by a block 8, so as to maintain said rollers in spaced relation.

A compound motor 14 is mounted on the frame C and is provided with a pinion 15 which meshes with a gear 16 on a drive-shaft 17. A sprocket 18 is mounted on the shaft 17, and is connected with a sprocket 19 on the lower pinch-roller 5 by a chain 20 so as to normally drive the roller 5 in aclockwise direction. .The upper pinch-roller 4 is in frictional engagement with the roller 5 so that the roller 4 will be driven in a counterclockwise direction. The roller 4 is provided with a drive-sprocket 21 which is connected to a s rocket 22 on a plate return roller 23 by a c ain 24. The roller 23 is journaled in fixed hearings in the side-plates 3 and is adapted to aid in conveying the plates over the rolls when they are returned by the catc er. a

T e roller 23 is rovided with a second sprocket 25 which is connected by a chain 26. with a sprocket 27 on the upper pinchroller 8.

From the above it will be readily seen that the single motor 14 serves to drive the pair of-pinch-rollers 4 and 5, the conveying or plate return roller 23, and the upper roller-8 o'f the pair of pinch-rollers 8 and 9.

Guide-plates 29 are mounted between the pairs of pinch-rollers and serve to support the hot plate as it passes from one pair of pinch-rollers to the other.

d Other guide-plates 30 are mounted on a cross-member 30, of the frame G, and serve to support the hot sheets or plates as they pass rom the pinch-rollers Sand 9.

A single conveying roller composed of a shaft 31 having disks 32 secured thereon, is journaled in bearings 33 adjacent the forward ends of the side members 2 of the frame 0. A jack-shaft 34 is journaled on the frame C below the single conveying roller and has a sprocket 35 and gear 36 secured thereon.

The sprocket 35 is connected by a drive-chain 37 to a sprocket 38 on the drive-shaft 17, and

the gear 36 is meshed with a gear 39 on the shaft 31 of the conveying roller, whereby said rolleris operated by the motor 14 which drives the pinch-rollers 4 and 5 and 8 and 9.

A conveying table E, composed of side members 40 and transverse members 41, is Drovided with a trunnion-shaft 42 intermediate its ends which is journaled in bearings shafts 44 journaled in bearings 45 on the table side members 40 and have disks 46 secured thereon.

A reversing motor 47 is mounted on the frame C, and has its armature shaft provided with a pinion 48 which is meshed with a gear 49 ona jack-shaft 50 journaled on' the frame C. The shaft-50 is in vertical alinement with the trunnion-shaft 42' of the table E. p

A pairof jack-shafts 51 and 52 extend transversely of and are journaled in the side members 40 of the table E. The shafts 51 and 52 are respectively spaced an qual distance from the opposite sides of he trunnion-shaft 42.

The shafts 50, 51 and 52 are provided with sprockets 53,- 54 and 55, respectively, which are connected by a drive-chain 56.

The shafts 51 and 52 are provided with other sprockets 57 and 58, respectively, which are connected with sprockets 59 and 60 se' cured to the roller-shaft 44 adjacent the shafts 51 and 52 by chains 61 and 62.

All of the conveyor roller-shaftsare provided with sprockets 63 which are connected by chains 64 so that all of the rollers Y will be described, and the tension of the chain 56 will be transferred to the point between the sprockets 53 and 55. This transfer of the tension point of the chain 56 willrock the table E in the reverse direction so as to position it substantially on a horizontal plane, thus facilitating the discharge of the full length sheets from the table.

In order to automatically gage the length of the plates and run the full length or finished plates away from the mill, means are provided for automatically reversing the motor 47. r

The automatic reversing means comprises a shaft extension 65 on the lower or idler pinch-roller 9, on which is mounted a pinion 66 which is in mesh with a rack 67 slidably mounted for verticalmovement in a guideway 68. "The rack 67 is ada ted to engage and trip a vertically adjusta le switch 69 when pinion 66 as the idler roller 9 is rotated when a late passes between the rollers 8 and 9.

he tripping of the switch 69 is adapted to energize an electric reversing control mechanism shown in the wiring diagram. This control mechanism is of standard design and forms no part of this invention.

\Vhen the switch 69 is tripped, it will energize the solenoid 71 which will operate the switch 72 and complete a circuit through the coils 73 of a magnetically operated switch 74 which will operate to reverse the armature circuit of the motor 47 The normal or forward circuit to the armature of motor 47 is from the supply line 75 through line 76, through one of the switches 74, line 76, then through the armature of the motor 47, through the line 77 and the other switch 74 to line 78, and back to the other supply. line 79.

When the solenoid 71 has been energized by the tripping of the switch 69 and the switches 74 have been moved into reverse position, a circuit will be completed from supply line 75, through the line 76, switch 74, line 80 and resistance 81, to line 77, then through the armature to line 76 and line 82 and resistance 83, to the second switch 74 and back through line 78 to the other supply line 79. A standard manually operated switch 85 is provided for completing the circuit from the supply lines 75 and 7 9. I

The solenoid 71 is provided with a dashpot 71 which serves to time the operation of the switch 72 so said switch willremain closed until the plates havebeen conveyed off of the catcher.

In order to prevent the lower or idler pin'chroller 9 from overrunning after. the plate has passed from between the pinch-rollers 8 and 9 and thereby causing the switch 69 to be actu'ated to reverse the motor 47 before the plate is rolled to gage or length, I have provided a brake on the roller-shaft.

The brake onthe shaft of roller 9 comprises a ratchet-wheel 86 whichis keyed on the shaft of the roller 9, and is adapted to run in a brake-drum 87 which is supported on a sleeve 88 projecting from the bearing 12 of the lower roller. A roller bearing 89 is mounted between the brake-drum 87 and the sleeve 88. A dog 90 is mounted on a pin 91 in the brake-drum and is adapted to engage the teeth 91 of the ratchet-wheel 86. A spring 92 is provided to force the dog into engagement with the ratchet teeth 91. A brake-shoe 93 is pivotally connected to one end of a crank-lever 94, and is adapted to be forced against the brake-drum 87 when the plates pass from between the rollers-8 and 9 to stop the rotation of the roller 9. The lever 94 is keyed to a shaft 95 which is journaled in the side-plates 3 and 3 and a pair of fingers 96 are also keyed to the shaft and positioned so as to'normally extend into the path of the plates or sheets as they pass into the bite of the rollers 8 and 9. As the plates or sheets pass into the bite of the rollers 8and 9 they will engage and depress the fingers96 so as to rock the shaft 95, and thereby rock the brake-shoe 93 rearwardly out of engagement with the drum 87. A tension spring 98 is provided for normally forcing the shoe into engagement with the brake-drum.

As soon as the plate passes through the pinch-rollers 8 and 9 the fingers 96 will be released and the spring 98 will snap the brake-shoe 93 against the drum 87, thereby stopping the rotation of the roller 9 in the forward or clockwise direction.

The roller 9 will be free, however, to move in the reverse or counter-clockwise direction after the brake-shoe 93 is applied, since the dog 90 can ride back over the teeth 91 of the ratchet 86'. This free reverse movement will permit the rack 67 to fall to its lower or nor- Inal position by gravity in readiness to gage the same plate or the next plate.

It will also be noted that the brake mechanism will prevent any rebound of the rack 67 as it falls by gravity.

In operation, the plates will pass from between the mill rolls A and B into the bite of the pinch-rollers 4 and 5, and then into the bite of the pinch-rollers 8 and 9. The pinch-rollers 8 and 9 will feed the plates onto the conveyer rollers Y of the rocking table E which are, if the plates are not rolled to finished length, being rotated in a counterclockwise direction, or toward the mill, and

will consequently reverse the directionof movement of the plates and move them to ward the mill so as to cause said plates to return over the mill for're-rolling.

Prior to the rolling of the plates, the switch.

69 will be adjusted vertically so that the rack 67 will not trip the switch unless the plates are of sufficient length to rotate the idler pinch-roller 9 a s'uflicient number of revolutions to cause the pinion 66 to elevate the rack a predetermined amount.

When the plates are rolled out to finished length, the friction of the plate passing between the pinch-rollers 8 and 9 will rotate theidler roller'9 a sufficient number of revolutions to cause the rack 67 to trip the switch 69, thus energizing the automatic reversing mechanism and reversing the motor &7 so as to reverse the direction of rotation of the rollers Y and also rock the table E up into a substantially horizontal plane, thereby discharging the finished plates rearwardly off of said table.

When the plate has passed from between the pinch-rollers 8 and 9, the rack 67 will fall by gravity and permit the switch 69 to reset for the next operation. However, once the switch 69 has been tripped, the motor 47 will remain reversed, due to the dash-pot control on the switch-72 which will'hold the switch 72 closed a suflicient length of time for the plate to be conveyed rearwardly off of the catcher.

The plates as they are fed rearwardly off of the catcher table are adapted to form a pile and, therefore, a pile forming mechanism composed of side guide-plates 100 and an end bumper-plate 102 are provided. The bumper-plate 102 is provided with a base portion 103 which is pivotally secured to a pin 104 so as to permitthe .plate to rock when a plate or sheet strikes it. This rocking of bumper-plate 102 serves to cushion the blow of the sheet or plate being piled and also serves to shift the piled sheets or plates into alinement.

In order to facilitate the delivery of the sheets or plates onto the pile, a; pair of supporting rollers 105 are secured on a shaft 106 ournaled in a bearing 107 on the upper end of a lever-arm 108. The lower end of the lever-arm 108 is pivotally supported on the lower portion of the rear end of the frame C and is adapted to be automatically swung outwardly toward the bumper-plate 102 when the table E is delivering a plate to the pile, and to-be retracted when the table is inclined toward the mill.

' To provide for the automatic operation of the lever-arm 108, a pair of toggle-levers 109 and 110 are provided and are connected to the rear end of the table E by a link 112, one of which is connected to the frame '0 at 113, iilie other being connected to the lever 108 at When the table E is rocked into the horizontal plane to discharge a plate or sheet, the toggle levers 109 and 110 will be extended to movethe lever-arm 108 and rollers105 rearwardly so as to support the plate as it is moved rearwardly against the bumperplate 102. Then as the table E is again tilted forwardly toward the mill by the reversing of the motor 47, the toggle-levers 109 and 110 will be retracted and will pull the lever-arm 108 and rollers 105 toward the table so as to let the rear end of the plate fall onto the pile.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish'to be limited veying rollers, said drive-shafts eing jour naled in bearings secured to said table at opposite sides of the pivotal mounting thereof, a jack-shaft journaled on said frame in line with the pivotal mounting of said table, a drive-sprocket on said j ackshaft, other sprockets on said drive-shafts, a chain trained over said sprockets, a reversible motor for driving said jack-shaft, and means for forming drive connections between said driveshafts and said conveying rollers.

2. The combination with a hot mill, of a catcher, said catcher comprising a frame portion, a table pivotally mounted on said frame for rocking movement about a horizontal axis, at least one set of pinch-rollers on said frame for receiving the plates as they pass from said mill and feeding said plates ontosaid table, a plurality of conveying rollers journaled on said table, means for driving said conveying rollers in reverse directions, and means for automatically tilting said table in the direction of the drive of said conveying rollers.

3. The combination with a hot mill, of a catcher, said catcher comprising a frame portion, a table pivotally mounted on said frame for rocking movement about a horizontal axis, at least one set of pinch-rollers on said frame for receiving the plates as they pass from said mill and feeding said plates onto said table, a plurality of conveying rollers journaled on said table, means for driving said conveying rollers in reverse directions, and means operable by said driving means for automatically tilting said table in the direction of the drive of said conveying rollers.

4;. In a hot mill catcher, a rigid frame member, a table mounted on said frame for rocking movement about a horizontal axis, conveymg means on said table for conveying plates and sheets along said table, means for driving said conveying means in reverse directions, means for automatically tilting said table in the direction of the drive of said conveying means, a supporting roller journaled on the upper end of one arm pivotally supported on the rear end of said frame, said arm being. adapted to be swung rearwardly away from said frame when said table is tilted in one direction and to be swung toward said frame when said table is tilted in the other direction.

5. In a hot mill catcher, a rigid frame member, a table mounted on said frame for rocking movement about a horizontal axis, conveyin means on said table for conveying plates an sheets along said table, means for driving said conveying means in reverse directions, means for automatically tilting said table in the direction of the drive of said conveyingmeans, a supporting roller journaled on the upper end of an arm pivotally supported on the rear end of said frame, said arm being adapted to be swung rearwardly away'from said frame when said table is tilted in one direction and to be swung toward said frame when saidtable is. tilted in the other direction, and means operable by said table for swinging said arm away from said frame when said table is tilted.

6. In a hot mill catcher, a rigid frame member, a table mounted on said frame for rocking movement about a horizontal axis, conveylng means on said table for conveying plates and sheets along said table, means for driving said conveying means in reverse directions, means forautomatically tiltin said table in the direction of the drive of sai conveying means, a supporting roller journaled on the upper end of an arm pivotally supported on the rear end of said frame, said arm being adapted to be swung rearwardly away from said frame when said table is from said frame when said table is tilted.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

DARIQ BUCCICONE. 

